Pictures: Sport pictures of 2011

Thursday 22 Dec 2011 12:57 pm

Pictures: Sport pictures of 2011

The race car of driver Will Power (L) goes airborne

The race car of driver Will Power (L) goes airborne during the IZOD IndyCar World Championship race at the Las Vegas Motor Speedway in Las Vegas, Nevada October 16, 2011. The motor racing world was left reeling on Monday from the death of time-two Indianapolis 500 champion Dan Wheldon while the search for answers into what triggered the horrific crash began. Wheldon's death in the IndyCar finale at Las Vegas Speedway on Sunday left fans stunned and plunged series officials into crisis management mode as the season-ending celebration turned to disaster. Picture taken October 16, 2011.

Manchester United’s Wayne Rooney celebrates after scoring a goal

Manchester United's Wayne Rooney celebrates after scoring a goal during the first leg of their Champions League quarter final soccer match against Chelsea at Stamford Bridge in London April 6, 2011.

Tottenham Hotspur's goalkeeper Heurelho Gomes attempts to prevent Chelsea's Frank Lampard's shot from crossing the line during their Premier League soccer match at Stamford Bridge, London April 30, 2011. The goal was awarded.

Barcelona’s Lionel Messi celebrates after scoring against Manchester United

Barcelona's Lionel Messi celebrates after scoring against Manchester United during their Champions League final soccer match at Wembley Stadium in London May 28, 2011.

Vincent Kompany fights for the ball with Turkey’s Kazim Kazim

Belgium's Vincent Kompany fights for the ball with Turkey's Kazim Kazim (L) during their Euro 2012 Group A qualifying soccer match at King Baudouin Stadium in Brussels June 3, 2011.

Rory McIlroy

Northern Ireland's Rory McIlroy celebrates his win during the final round of the U.S. Open golf tournament at Congressional Country Club in Bethesda, Maryland, June 19, 2011.

Bryce Lamb lands in the pit during the men’s long jump

Bryce Lamb lands in the pit during the men's long jump at the U.S. Outdoor Track and Field Championships in Eugene, Oregon, June 25, 2011.

Gareth Thomas

To help celebrate this new way of capturing motion in an image, Nikon has enlisted international rugby star Gareth Thomas to re-stage photographic history by recreating one of the most significant photographic milestones - the first photo series to ever show movement. The 19th century ‘galloping horse’ sequence was taken by Eadweard[1] Muybridge to prove a bet that all four of a horse's hooves leave the ground at the same time during a trot. Now, through the modern recreation of this famous image we can look at the secrets to Gareth’s world-renowned try-scoring ability using the Nikon 1 series of cameras.

A bull bleeds from its broken horn during a bullfight

A bull bleeds from its broken horn during a bullfight at the El Plantio bullring in Burgos June 29, 2011.

The Colombian team performs during the preliminary round of the synchronised swimming team technical event

The Colombian team performs during the preliminary round of the synchronised swimming team technical event at the 14th FINA World Championships in Shanghai July 18, 2011.

Oscar Pistorius

Oscar Pistorius of South Africa comes out of the starting blocks during his men's 400 metres heat at the IAAF World Championships in Daegu August 28, 2011.

Usain Bolt

Usain Bolt of Jamaica walks without his shirt after being disqualified for a false start during the men's 100 metres final at the IAAF World Championships in Daegu August 28, 2011.

Inter Milan's Maicon slides into the net as Bayern Munich's Mario Gomez (not pictured) scores his team's first goal during their Champions League round of 16 second leg soccer match in Munich March 15, 2011.

Valentino Rossi

Ducati MotoGP rider Valentino Rossi of Italy rides during the second practice session of the Australian Grand Prix on Phillip Island near Melbourne October 14, 2011.

Members of the Mexican synchronized swimming team practice

Members of the Mexican synchronized swimming team practice during the Pan American Games in Guadalajara, October 19, 2011.

The English test cricket team celebrates winning the Ashes

The English test cricket team celebrates winning the Ashes test series after they beat Australia in the fifth Ashes cricket test at the Sydney Cricket Ground January 7, 2011.

Red Bull-Renault driver Sebastian Vettel

Red Bull-Renault driver Sebastian Vettel of Germany celebrates driver's world championship victory on the podium during the awarding ceremony of the Formula One's Japanese Grand Prix at Suzuka on October 9, 2011. Vettel, 24, became Formula One's youngest back-to-back world champion on October 9 when he finished third in the Japanese Grand Prix.

Formula One Singapore Grand Prix

This overview on September 19, 2011 from the Swissotel looks out at the lighted circuit for the upcoming Formula One Singapore Grand Prix night race in Singapore. The Singapore Grand Prix will take place on September 25.

Ducati’s Damien Cudlin of Australia crashes

Ducati's Damien Cudlin of Australia crashes out of the third practice session of the Australian Grand Prix motorcycling MotoGP race at Phillip Island on October 15, 2011. Cudlin was a substitute rider for Hector Barbera of Spain who is out due to injury.

Ducati rider Valentino Rossi (L) of Italy, Yamaha rider Colin Edwards (top) of the US, and Honda rider Marco Simoncelli (C) of Italy collide at turn 11 of the Sepang racing circuit during the Malaysian MotoGP on October 23, 2011. Celebrated Italian rider Marco Simoncelli died after the crash that resulted in the cancellation of the race, in the latest tragedy to hit motor sports. The smash occurred just minutes after the race began when the 24-year-old Honda rider's bike veered across the track and into the path of riders Colin Edwards and Valentino Rossi.

Manny Pacquiao (L) takes a left to his face from Juan Manuel Marquez

WBO Welterweight Champion Manny Pacquiao (L) takes a left to his face from Juan Manuel Marquez (R) during their title fight at the MGM Grand Garden Arena Saturday November 12, 2011 in Las Vegas, Nevada. Pacquiao defended his WBO welterweight title against Marquez with a majority 12 round decision.

Mesut Ozil

Real Madrid's German midfielder Mesut Ozil runs with the ball during the Spanish King's Cup football match Real Madrid CF vs Ponferradina on December 20, 2011 at the Santiago Bernabeu stadium in Madrid.